PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

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Rule of law abandoned as hundreds of Acehnese jailed in political trials

22 January 2004

Disturbing accounts are emerging that the martial law authorities in war-torn Aceh, Indonesia are jailing hundreds of Acehnese following unfair political trials and the systematic violation of international standards of justice.

A total of 1553 Acehnese have been detained and interrogated and 756 have been convicted of crimes against the state and jailed for terms of between one and twenty years.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign has called upon the British Government to intervene in a letter today to Foreign Office Minister, Mike O'Brien.

"The treatment of the prisoners is outrageous. Many are political prisoners who have been convicted on trumped-up charges because of their alleged political beliefs or allegiances. They should be released immediately and unconditionally," says Liem Soei Liong of TAPOL.

"The condition of martial law in Aceh has created a situation where the military are practically running the place and the existing legal procedures are no longer valid," says TAPOL in its letter to the Minister.

Drawing on reports from local media, human rights activists and lawyers - who are subject to intense intimidation and harassment - the letter refers to allegations of torture and ill-treatment and details a catalogue of abuses of fair trial standards including the denial of access to lawyers, of facilities to prepare a proper defence, and of the opportunity to present defence evidence.

TAPOL also expresses concern about the transfer of prisoners to detention centres in Central and East Java, far away from their homes and families, in breach of international standards on the treatment of prisoners.

TAPOL urges the Britain to increase its efforts to persuade Indonesia to abandon its fruitless attempt to impose a military solution on the Aceh conflict and to return to the negotiating table.

Indonesia declared martial law in Aceh and launched an offensive against the Free Aceh Movement, GAM, on 19 May 2003. It extended martial law on 19 November for a further six months. At least 1,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the start of martial law.

ENDS

For more information, contact Liem Soei Liong or Aguswandi on 020 8771 2904.

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